"Hey, you betrayed us without any hesitation." Li Ang said helplessly.

"Just kidding, what's brotherhood compared to doing two less workloads!"

At this point, there's really no way to run.

The Haven race young girl in the sky was Alaphia Alma, the Order Flame Corps' deputy leader who's always wanted to recruit Li Ang.

The petite girl descended towards the deck, and only when she got close could one notice that she was walking on a horizontally floating blade in the air.

This blade was as thin as cicada wings, with a transparent body, and her toes, clad in black footless socks, were stepping right on the blade's flat surface.

The golden edge traced by the footless socks made her small, rounded toes and pink pads look like a work of art.

The blade didn't land on the deck but floated at about knee height, just enough to keep her eye level with everyone else's.

She raised her small palm and bent her finger; a small hammer appeared out of thin air above Lanslow's head, and under the movement of her fingertips, it banged against his head.

"Ah! Miss! Spare me! Leader! Holy Knight sir! Please stop!"

Lanslow cried miserably, but Li Ang could see it didn't hurt much, akin to a finger tapping one's head.

Lanslow quickly removed Li Ang's Divine Eye Helmet: "Look! The merit I've done for you!"

Seeing Li Ang's appearance, Alaphia Alma lifted her chin and arched her golden eyebrows.

"Lanslow, as a deputy leader of the Order Sky Knight Corps, what do you think I'm doing? Punishing you so you remember and don't idle around, do you think finding the people I want can make up for official missteps?"

"Th-then doesn't that mean you don't want Li Ang anymore?"

"Heh, that has nothing to do with it—stay put as well."

Li Ang, who was trying to sneak back onto Dorothy's ship, was blocked by a long rod materializing horizontally out of thin air on his path.

The blonde petite girl stepped on her flying blade to Li Ang's side: "Just rightly, I'm returning to the Ignis Sky Realm's garrison to suppress the chaos happening here; since you're involved, come along as well. After resolving things, return to the corps with me."

Li Ang helplessly shook his head: "Alaphia, I'm just passing by."

"You've left the Soul Apex, and ordinary corps probably don't interest you."

The young lady put her hands on her hips: "I know you're not accustomed to the Four Major Aerial Realms, it won't be long before it's time to reorganize the sub-corps again, then you can accompany me to the Demon Disaster Realm's investigation team."

"I already have a team."

"Oh? Which Celestial Group, huh?"

The young girl's petite mouth imperceptibly curled while she quickly whispered something in a barely audible voice.

Previously, such speeds would have been inaudible to Li Ang, but ever since his system upgrade raised his Professional Tier, getting the Strong Physique skill, he's been seeing and hearing much better.

What Alaphia said was—how come there's someone else watching besides me, which little fish is this damnable creature.

"It's not a Celestial Group, I started my own and I'm the leader."

"You yourself?"

The blonde girl looked Li Ang up and down: "I'm not surprised, what about your members? It's only been a few days, maybe not enough time to recruit? So you and I..."

"Li Ang—"

Dorothy steered the ship closer, leaning over the railing waving towards this side: "Is the matter resolved?"

"Resolved, let's dock and then we leave."

The half-elf maiden maneuvered her ship parallel to the Magical Warship and jumped over the gap between the two vessels in a huff.

She patted the Ring of the Vigorous Champion on her hand: "This ring is so useful, in the past, I might have been tired to faint along the way."

When Dorothy approached, Li Ang said: "Let me introduce, this is Alaphia Alma, the leader of the Order Flame Corps; this is Dorothy Campbell, a member of my team."

"Hello." Dorothy waved nonchalantly, seemingly avoiding the noble etiquette on purpose.

Alaphia nodded at her and frowned while staring at Li Ang: "You using your girlfriends to brush me off?"

Dorothy didn't understand what's going on, blinking blankly.

"Not some girlfriend of mine."

"Eh? Isn't it?" Dorothy grunted.

"You probably won't believe it," Li Ang shook his head: "I actually didn't plan to seek out ones like her."

Dorothy pouted, Alaphia's expression froze: "Them?"

"Oh, I already found one earlier."

The douding young girl sized up Dorothy: "Judging by this one's magic power rhythm, she should be a novice Caster, you've been recruiting all..."

"The other is a Tier Two Swordsman."

Alaphia's face grew colder, and Dorothy whispered she'd leave them to discuss business and slipped to the other side of the deck.

"Um, young lady," Lanslow sensed the atmosphere wasn't right, inching closer: "About the Empire's matters..."

Alaphia raised her hand over her shoulder pointing behind; there sat a pristine high-tier Flying Airship, its floating airbag emblazoned with the Order Flame Corps emblem.

"Drost will first go to the Hall of Order to assess the situation."

The person in her words was the Flame Corps vice leader, whom Li Ang had met before.

The people on the Flying Airship were communicating with the other ships at the channel entrance, having roughly finished their conversation by now, it crossed over the Magical Warship heading towards the Ignis Sky Realm.

"The important matters take precedence," Alaphia did not continue dwelling on Li Ang's issues. "First, tell me about your experiences."

Soon enough, she learned all about the blocked routes, the Annihilation Knights, the Empire's alliances with various territories, and other related events.

"It seems their plan is to take advantage of my absence, exploit the time difference to defeat you individually, and then block the routes to control the Ignis Sky Realm.

"Like that black minion just now, individually they're very weak, but if there are enough of them, even I can't break through alone.

"Can that even be considered weak..." Lanslow muttered with a wry smile.

Giving him another knock, Alaphia glanced at the horizontal air currents of the routes. "By then, waiting for the elite Order Corps nearby or the commissioned Celestial Group to gather will take some time, and reopening the routes will take even longer. During this delay, the so-called Empire plans to make a move inside."

As someone accustomed to various situations, Alaphia's analysis was very close to Li Ang's assumptions.

"You lot are shameful little fish; if not for others passing by, the Empire would have succeeded. You need a good retraining session later."

After saying this, Alaphia's tone softened a little. "However, they did seize the chance while the captain and vice-captain were on official duty, meaning they were prepared. You advancing the opening of the routes is an achievement for you this time, and for Li Ang as well. The guild will surely reward you both."

The guild's rewards generally come in the form of either merits or tangible items, usually one or the other. But in a situation like the Empire causing trouble, both would likely be awarded together.

"What are your plans following this?" Li Ang asked.

The young female captain stated she intended to inspect their post, check the damage to various squads, then gather remaining forces to patrol and suppress the entire aerial realm with the Order Flower Sword Corps elite she had informed. They would disarm all armed forces of the Empire, detain involved individuals, and then begin to investigate the truth behind the scenes.

This was a completely standard procedure, and Li Ang continued, "There are a few things I would like you to pay attention to."

He picked up the helmet of the Annihilation Knight killed by Alaphia, pointing at the eyes upon it.

"This is a symbol of a certain force, and the Empire mastering the power at the Excellence Realm is closely tied to them."

The young female captain took the helmet with her small hands, gently stroked its surface, a silver ripple stirred tiny thunder sounds, as she used her magic power to analyze the helmet, a skill unique to her race and profession.

"Indeed, it's quite strange."

She put on the helmet, which originally belonged to a two-and-a-half-meter giant. Worn on her, who was like a little girl, it appeared hilariously oversized, yet no one present dared to laugh.

"The construction lacks precious materials; it merely solidifies pure magic material into the material world. But this eye pulls at spirituality in a way I cannot comprehend."

"Did you see anything when you put it on?" Li Ang asked.

"I saw nothing; only its original user can see something. They are enveloped in purple-black flesh, in some special state."

Taking off the helmet, Alaphia nodded, "It is indeed something that warrants attention."

"The entity behind this is not ordinary, please keep a close eye out and approach this with caution while investigating the Empire."

Li Ang recalled the envoy he saw talking with Count Feinat in the secret passage. Previously, he paid special attention to two Annihilation Knights; they were eliminated without him showing up.

That person had numerous unfamiliar terms on their profile, but since it is related to the Empire, it certainly concerns the fate that Zoe must face.

Alaphia slightly closed her eyes. "Are you worried about me? Worried about the seventh-ranked Sky Knight in terms of merits?"

"A little bit."

The golden-haired girl suddenly raised her head, "Then isn't it perfect? Since you're entangled in this matter and worried something might happen later, come with me and let's clear up the Empire."

Li Ang pondered for a moment but ultimately shook his head.

What Alaphia said was not incorrect; in the past, he would have gone personally to make sure nothing went wrong.

The option appeared in his mind as he flew out of Spark Island.

In conflict with this option is choosing to go to Frost Heaven Island in the Gorasis Sky Realm, bringing Zoe on an adventure.

He had promised that little cat to go there soon, and he did not think the Empire's influence could be easily halted.

Since they have become the antagonists hindering the protagonist of the world within the game storyline of Nebis Fantasy, before the full truth is revealed, before the mysterious powers they wield are vanquished, the Empire will surely continue executing their plans.

Why doesn't Li Ang gather his "friends" and "all Celestial Groups" to directly annihilate the Empire?

Firstly, this world doesn't revolve entirely around him, or rather, he's still some way from getting the world to pivot around him. He has quite a journey ahead.

The Celestial Group members are either conquering the Demon Disaster Realm's desert or eliminating magical catastrophes, reintegrating island regions in the material dimension back into nature's cycle, creating usable land for the world.

Occasionally, the arrival of magical disasters brings enemies unimaginable to ordinary mortals.

Without these formidable figures striving in the Demon Disaster Realm, horrifying enemies could flood into the Four Major Aerial Realms, leading to widespread devastation.

Meanwhile, each Order Corps maintains tranquility within their respective aerial realms.

Investigating the Empire—with Alaphia, a Knight Resolution Council member, leading—even with assistance from all sides, takes time; during this process, commissions might be issued for individual Sky Knights and Sky Cavalry to take on.

Li Ang's acquainted, peculiar, powerful, independent friends might be willing to lend a hand if contacted, but the challenge is that most of the time, they're nowhere to be found.

Such is the nature of this world, which is why he desires a team of his own.

Secondly, although Li Ang unexpectedly disrupted the Empire's risky maneuver, they surely have a backup plan. The delay doesn't mean a total collapse of their scheme.

Their power at the back extends far, having existed in the shadows of this world for so long, they won't easily be eradicated by superficial suppression.

Zoe is linked to the world's fate, intricately tied to the Empire.

Without Li Ang, she's supposed to face the Empire's pursuit, grow stronger, engage in battles against the Empire, and ultimately confront the hidden mastermind in a final showdown.

Why her? Perhaps because only she is capable of solving the Empire's problem.

Therefore, knowing this would happen someday, Li Ang aims to use his experience to train her, helping her become stronger earlier and better prepared for the destined showdown against the Empire, possibly sparing her from excessive hardship and sacrifices along the way.

Thus, Li Ang decided to entrust the Empire's matters temporarily to Alaphia.

He composed himself and spoke seriously, "Alaphia, this is my personal formal request, and I want to use the favor I owe here."

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